IDEAL JUSTICE IS MAINTAINING AND UPHOLDING THE LAW IN A FAIR AND UNBIASED MANNER, AND IN WHATEVER DEGREE POSSIBLE, RESTORING TO THE OBJECT OF THE CRIME, THAT WHICH WAS TAKEN AWAY.
PUNISHMENT IS A PART OF JUSTICE. THE ONE WHO HAS COMMITTED A CRIME MUST PAY FOR IT. THE NATURE OF THE PAYMENT IS RELATED TO THE NATURE OF THE CRIME. IF ONE TAKES THE LIFE OF ANOTHER, “IN COLD BLOOD” SO TO SPEAK, THE LIFE OF THE MURDERER IS TAKEN. THIS IS CALLED CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. BUT PUNISHMENT AND DEATH OF A MURDERER CANNOT RESTORE THE LIFE OF THE MURDERED ONE.
WHAT GOD IS SEEKING IN US IS HIS OWN LIFE. OUR SIN HAS CUT US OFF FROM HIM. WE MUST BE RESTORED TO THE SOURCE OF OUR LIFE IF WE ARE GOING TO TRULY LIVE. NO AMOUNT OF PUNISHMENT CAN GIVE GOD WHAT HE IS SEEKING IN US, AND THAT IS LIFE.
THIS IS WHERE THE THEORY OF SUBSTITUTED PUNISHMENT AS BEING A PROPITIATION OR SATISFACTION TO GOD FAILS AND IS GROSSLY MISLEADING.
HOW CAN GOD SAVE US FROM OUR SIN? ONLY BY GIVING US HIS OWN LIFE. GOD’S GIVING OF HIS LIFE TO US WAS NOT JUST ON THE CROSS. IT BEGAN WITH THE INCARNATION AND CONTINUED THROUGHOUT JESUS’ LIFE AND IN HIS DEATH.
ANIMAL SACRIFICE WAS A SYMBOL OF THE REALITY THAT HAS BEEN REVEALED IN CHRIST. GOD TOLD ISRAEL THAT THE ATONING VALUE OF THE SACRIFICE IS FOUND IN ITS LIFE. THE BLOOD MAKES ATONEMENT BY REASON OF THE LIFE. Leviticus 17:11 A LIFE WAS GIVEN TO GOD IN THE DEATH OF THE ANIMAL. JESUS HAD TO DIE IN ORDER TO GIVE US HIS LIFE; BUT IT WAS THE LIFE GOD WAS SEEKING, NOT THE DEATH.
GOD’S JUSTICE IS NOT SATISFIED BY PUNISHMENT OR BY INFLICTING SUFFERING AND DEATH ON HIS SON. THE DEATH OF JESUS IS THE CULMINATION OF GOD’S GIVING OF HIMSELF TO THE HUMAN RACE. IN THE BIRTH, LIFE, AND DEATH OF JESUS, GOD WAS GIVING HIMSELF TO THE HUMAN RACE IN ALL OF ITS HELPLESSNESS, SIN AND DEATH.
OUR PUNISHMENT FOR SIN LIES IN THE VERY NATURE OF SIN. THE BIBLE CALLS IT “THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.” Romans 8:2 THE SOUL THAT SINS SHALL DIE BECAUSE SIN CUTS US OFF FROM OUR SOURCE OF LIFE. ONLY LIFE CAN DELIVER FROM DEATH.
IN JESUS, HUMAN LIFE IS RESTORED TO GOD. THIS IS PERFECT JUSTICE.
BY MAKING MAN’S IMPERFECT JUDICIAL SYSTEM A PATTERN FOR THE JUSTICE OF GOD, WE END UP WITH A VERY UGLY PICTURE OF OUR LOVING, LIFE GIVING GOD.
Rosemary E Hyslop September 27, 2014